Released: 9th March 2018 (UK)
Length: 90 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Manette, John Doman and Judith Roberts
In amongst all the big blockbusters throughout the year, we get simple yet powerful releases that draw the audience in fully. You Were Never Really Here is one of those films, offering an arresting narrative that puts its characters first.
Based on the novel by Jonathon Ames, in modern New York City, Joe (Joaquin Phoenix), a man with very ruthless methods, is hired by a US Senator to track down the young Nina Votto (Ekaterina Samsonov) who has been kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring. Joe agrees but soon finds himself in a complicated situation while being forced to confront his past demons. With a fluid and focused plot at its centre, You Were Never Really Centre never gets side-tracked as the film unfolds entirely from the protagonist’s perspective. All of it is told with very little dialogue and a keen visual eye; we learn about the characters through the presentation of their inner thoughts and the actions they take. It’s a mesmerising blend of self-reflection, quiet emotion and brutal violence that engages the viewer absolutely from beginning to end.
The film’s presentation is fiercely committed to serving the story; it’s an excellent collection of techniques designed to go under the surface and show these characters at their most raw, emotional levels. For Joe, his tortured memories of abuse and trauma are shown sporadically in very quick bursts, emphasising his fractured mind and cluing us in to his troubled state. These memories are punctuated by seamless transitions between reality and the character’s inner thoughts; there are no intrusive flashbacks or time gaps to be found here as the plot is always moving forward. Shades of greyed, often saturated light peer through the film’s sequences, to the point of completely enveloping the audience. The same is also true of the score by Jonny Greenwood, who delivers an incredibly powerful backdrop that matches the film’s narrow, solemn tone.
What makes the characters of You Were Never Really Here so memorable is how their tormented lives are placed front and centre; Joe is a grizzled, beaten-down brute who very rarely speaks or shows any emotion; it’s a suppressed, simplistic lifestyle and yet you feel intense sympathy for him as he has closed himself off from all contact outside of his elderly mother. Nina Votto, the girl he searches for is equally well-portrayed; while she doesn’t have much material, there’s a clear desensitisation effect that has taken place through her ordeal. Outside of these rousing main performances, the side characters fit their roles well, never outstaying their welcome and simply providing background and context to the proceedings. It’s clear that the film is laser-focused on its two leads and this allows the story to convey its full impact.
You Were Never Really Here is powerfully shot, beautifully presented and eloquently told; on a visual level, it’s a masterclass. The only drawback is a somewhat limited performance by Ekaterina Samsonov; other than that, it’s a must-see for any serious filmgoer.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)